'Idol' James: 'Bret Michaels is amazing'

Casey James has described performing with Bret Michaels on the American Idol finale as an "honor".

Poison frontman Michaels had surprised the audience by joining James for a rendition of his band’s classic song ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’, despite suffering a string of medical problems in recent weeks.

He had been hospitalized following a brain hemorrhage and recently experienced symptoms of a stroke.

Speaking to MTV News, James said that he and Michaels "hit it off" and that it was an "honor" to share the stage with him.

"After the stuff that I had been through with my motorcycle, we just kind of immediately hit it off, and for him to be coming back, and for me to be on the stage when that happened? I mean, what an honor. I'll never forget it for the rest of my life," he said.

James - who described Michaels as an "amazing dude" - added that the "coolest thing" was that when the pair first met they "immediately started jamming" and "[tried] to figure out the arrangement for the song".

Michaels - who won this season's Celebrity Apprentice last month - previously admitted that he did not tell his doctors about his plans to perform on American Idol.

The rocker has also joked that he would be a great replacement for departed judge Simon Cowell, suggesting that his years of experience in the industry would allow him to give "awesome" advice to the contestants.